Today's weather, etc.

Today was amazing, weather wise. It was 10°C (50°F) and sunny, clear blue skies!! It was a pure delight at this time of year to be out and about without a jacket and be totally comfortable. I wish every day could be like today!! Of course, there is a draw back to this in that we had a small amount of snow the other day and today it did a lot of melting, now will freeze and be very icy. Not only could this be dangerous out on the highways, but I live on a hill so have a very steep driveway that can be very dangerous when glare ice as you can't stop and end up on the highway, risking hitting or being hit by oncoming traffic. So if it's going to be sunny and warm I want it to melt all the snow off the driveway and let it dry enough to avoid the buildup of ice. I wish everyone a safe and joyous winter!!

I attended my weekly TOPS meeting and found I gained 1 1/2 pounds over Christmas. While this is not good, it also isn't terrible. Apparently, the average weight gain over Christmas is 5 pounds, so I didn't do all that bad. The worst anyone in our group did was a 3 pound gain. Time to get busy and get rid of that along with lots more. After TOPS, I got gas in my truck, then went to lunch with the ladies, as usual, and had a Veggie Burger with side salad, took the top half of the bun off before I ate and left that on my plate, also using a lesser amount of the Italian salad dressing 'on the side'. I went and got some pellets for my stove (I heat my home with these pellets), then to the Bargain Bin to meet friend Pat and picked up a few items, including some nice sheets for my bed. After that Pat & I went to Dairy Queen where I broke my diet both as a vegan and a weight watcher... I had a Mini Blizzard... so could have been much worse. It was yummy!! When time to head home, I went to the used book store to look for some books I've been wanting. I got one of the ones on my list... and 4 that weren't on the list. This evening I browsed some in the book Cook With Tofu, it looks like some good information and recipes for a new vegan to learn from and enjoy.

Count Down to Spring

Well, Christmas is over and New Years is very nearly here. So far I have no plans for New Years Eve and will likely stay home to cuddle with my cat and watch TV, likely playing games on the computer as I do so. Or perhaps I will go to friend Phil's to watch a movie, though that would probably still see me home well before midnight, so time to cuddle with the cat while on the computer and watching TV, or even go to bed and read a book. A week after New Years is my Birthday. Yup, I get them all over with at once, more or less, with Christmas, New Years and my Birthday all being within a 2 week period. After that, nothing until Valentines day for which I would look at personalized valentines gifts for him... if I had a 'him' in my life, which I don't unless you count some of my animals. I am happy as a single woman, for the most part. There are times I would like that to change, then I give my head a shake. I enjoy my freedom and can't imagine being happy without it. After Valentines there's April Fools Day (nephew Jeremy's Birthday), then Easter... yes this is the count down to something. The May Long Weekend when we celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday, is the latest I plan to have my trike back on the road. It of course will depend on the type of weather we are having at the time, and if the paint job is done as it will be done outside so must be warmer weather so not a winter project, but early May is when I plan to insure and start riding my trike again. Yes, I am counting down to what I so much look forward to.

Death of a Fire Chief

Today is a sad day for the small city of Enderby, BC Canada. In the early hours of today, there was a burning building and the local volunteer fire department went to fight it. As they worked, there was suddenly a big explosion that woke many sleeping people in Enderby, causing them to wonder what in the world just happened! Dennis Botkin, a man I knew many years ago, was watching the fire when this explosion happened and yelled for someone to call for an ambulance as someone had to have been hurt in that. Little did he know that his grandson, a 29 year old man recently married and the current volunteer fire chief, had just been killed in the explosion, and another fire fighter injured.

I grew up in Enderby and moved away in the late 1970s, though still have family there and only live about a 25 minute drive away. I feel great gratitude for all fire fighters as they put their lives on the line to serve and protect their towns/cities and the people that live there. I am saddened for the Botkin family and for the little city of Enderby with all it's residents. The loss of this life was a big loss all around.

Making Cookies... Again!!

I posted about making cookies the other day. Since then, I looked up Vegan Oatmeal Cookie recipes on the internet and found one that sounds really great so today I got what I need to make a batch or two of them, also for Christmas gifts. I'll bake them tomorrow or the next day. If you are interested, here is the recipe for you to check out! This fall I started eating about 95% Vegan. I have become very interested in eating healthily... and that sounds like something for another post.

Albert Einstein, physicist, 1921 Nobel Prize recipient:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

Food Bank Today..... Vegan Potluck This Evening

All my days lately seem to be very busy and tiring as well as wonderful. Today I had a medical appointment then went to the Food Bank to do another 2 1/2 volunteer hours. This month so far I have put in 11 1/2 hours there. With 818 Christmas Hampers going out this year, we have a lot of extra work to do putting those hampers together. Today my job was working on part of those Christmas Hampers. Ginger was putting 2 bags together so Iris and I could 'double bag' the veggies, so we would take a double bag and fill it with a 3# bag of onions + a 3# bag of carrots + a 5# bag of russet potatoes, tie the bags and stack them. In the 2 1/2 hours I was there, we did about 150 bags of which I know I did more than 50% as I was working at it by myself before Iris came in to help. It's a good thing I had a chiropractor appointment after that today as my back was not being kind to me at that point. As always, though, I enjoyed being at the Food Bank, doing what I can to help out.

After the Chiropractor all I wanted to do was come home and lay down, I felt so tired. However, my day was not yet over. I went to the Bulk Barn to pick up "a few things" and ended up picking up a LOT more than planned. YIKES!!! It came to $63!!!! Dang, groceries sure have gotten expensive lately!! I came home, used the washroom, packed up some Bean Soup I had made and off I went to my monthly Vegan Potluck and Video evening. GREAT food, WONDERFUL people, INFORMATIVE video on heart/artery health. I am so glad I went... and so GRATEFUL for being involved in this.

Food Bank

I put in many volunteer hours each month at the local Food Bank, run by the Salvation Army. I really enjoy going there to help out with all the work needing to be done and I so enjoy the people I get to work with there. December is always a very busy month around the Food Banks with all the Christmas Food Drives happening as well as donations coming in from schools, stores and so many other people walking in to bring donations. My TOPS club also donates a bunch of food at this time of year. Donations are needed at the Food Banks all year long and December is when most of the donations are made. When donations come in it means a lot of work sorting through all that mix of various kinds of food items, filling the shelves and boxing the rest to be stored for refiling the shelves as needed through the coming year. All the standing and bending is a real killer for my low back, but I persevere and get lots done. I am grateful for the opportunity to help where help is so needed.

Making Cookies

I packed up the ingredients for 2 kinds of cookies I wanted to make for Christmas gifts for a few of my 'guy friends'. I could of course make them at home, but wanted to go visit my Mom so decided to do both at the same time. I should have just come home after TOPS and gone to bed, or visited Mom for a while and come home early to bed. I went on to 'overload' in tired and in pain. However, I managed to get it done in the end, and still drive the 25 minutes home.

First I made Shortbread Cookies using a recipe given to me by my friend Cat Gee. They didn't turn out as great as Cat said they would be, so obviously not as great as hers turn out. Firs, they took a lot of mixing to get them 'smooth and creamy', then I could only put 1 pan of 12 cookies into the oven at a time. The recipe said bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes until golden on bottom of cookies. Well, Mom swears her oven is right so I don't know why, but it was taking around 25-30 minutes to get them to golden on the bottoms. When baking the 2nd dozen I was checking to see if they were done and WHOOF, the pan fell and there were broken cookies all over the inside of the oven!!! I was not happy!!! I cleaned up the mess and got the 3rd dozen in to bake. Mom was gone to get us some dinner from Subway when this happened and came home to see me cleaning up the last of the mess. She said stuff like this has happened to her too, so that helped a lot. It helped me to see I'm not such an idiot as I was feeling like until then.

Shortbread finally done, I started the Peanut Butter Balls. These ones don't get baked and though a bit fiddly, they are easy to make and are very healthy. Ingredients include flax meal, oat bran, carob chips and powder, honey &/or maple syrup... stuff like that. When all is mixed together, you roll it into little bitty balls that you roll in chopped nuts, or chia seeds, or coconut, or quinoa, or sesame seeds, or whatever else you can think of like that. They are so YUMMY and well worth the work to make them. I think I'll make another batch to give to my brother and his wife.

Another Full Thursday

Today I didn't make it to my every Thursday TOPS meeting. I had answered a post on Freecycle for 150 feet of baseboard being given away and the fellow needed me to go pick it up in Coldstream between 10am and noon on Thursday which is when my TOPS group meets in Armstrong. Once it was on my truck I had to bring it home and unload it. Some of the pieces are so long that I had to open the sliding back window of my truck and put the boards through, resting one end on the dash and the other end still sticking out so far I had to hang a red flag on my 'over length' load. The boards are anywhere from 2 feet long to 15 feet long. Once it was all unloaded I packed up a bunch of baking ingredients for making cookies and headed out for the rest of my day.

I drove to Armstrong for the usual Christmas gift exchange and mini party with 3 of my friends from the TOPS group... Pat, DJ and Pauline. I got there around 2pm and left at 4:30pm off and running to Mom's in Enderby... some days I put a lot of kilometers onto my truck. At Mom's I visited with her as well as made 2 kinds of cookies for giving as gifts to some of my friends this Christmas. Exhausted and in a lot of pain from my back, I left there around 11pm and made the 25 minute drive home again. I thought about stopping to gas up the truck at 2 1/2 cents per liter (1o cents per gallon) cheaper then here, but felt I just couldn't face it, needed to come home and end my day.

Ahhhh.... 'Tis The Season...

'Tis the season for social gatherings when there are oh so many pot luck dinners to attend which means oh so many dishes to cook and take along to share with friends, and oh so many photographs to take of people and food at the parties. Christmas is a hard time of year for many people for many reasons, including so much over eating makes us gain the pounds when what we want to do is drop weight and inches for a slim, trim body and improved health. All the excess photographs I take can be put on my portable hard drives, yet the excess food I eat goes straight to fat that gets stored on my body. I need to make sure I get more exercise as well as do my best to refrain from the over eating thing!! Wish my luck!!

Food Bank

Oh my aching back..... That is what I've been saying all day today and part of yesterday. You see, I did my volunteer hours at the Food Bank yesterday and I over did it a bunch. I was helping put together food hampers for people in need as well as sorting and putting away some of the food that has come in recently. At this time of year, there is a lot of food donated and it all has to be sorted through and put away on the shelves as well as boxed and stored to feed people throughout the coming year when there are not so many donations. I knew I was on my feet too long, bending down too much, and still I kept doing it as there was just so much to be done. We sure could use more help at this time of year. I really love being involved in this. I don't love the pain, and yet it's almost worth it in this case.

Eating Vegan

Yesterday I went to visit my Mom, taking with me some groceries I needed to make our dinner. I don't usually cook... for myself or anyone else, but since I've been choosing to eat Vegan, I am more interested in reading recipes and cooking meals. This is the first time I've taken groceries and cooked for my Mom and I think she was pretty happy. Hey, she even took seconds and that's unusual as Mom is a very small eater!! I have been going to a Vegan group to eat and to watch movies on health and why it is healthier to not eat animal based products. They not only fed us very well for 4 evenings, and showed us very interesting, informative videos, but they also gave us recipes and a great deal of health information handouts. What I cooked last night was one of those recipes.... Cuban Black Beans and Rice. I used brown Basmati rice. Mom had some spaghetti squash she had just cooked, not knowing I was planning to feed her, so we had some of that and spinach salad as well. A bit later, after playing a game of Tri-Onimos, we had tea and a great Tofu desert I buy in my favorite grocery store. A healthy meal, filling, and it stayed with me all evening.

NO TO SMART METERS!!

I've heard that connecticut electricity is fairly reasonably priced and I guess ours here is too, though it keeps going up and up as does the cost of all other things. It seems cost goes up more than income does and it sadly is hurting a lot of people. Now, the hydro company here is putting in what they call 'smart meters', which I and many other people feel are a violation of our privacy. Many people even believe they are dangerous to our health due to radiation!! Yesterday I noticed one of my Mom's neighbors had posted a sign beside her existing hydro meter stating that a smart meter is not to be installed there. I am going to post one beside my meter too. I was hoping to find one on the internet to print out, but haven't yet though I've been to several sites. I took some photos last night of the one I saw, so can use them to make up my own sign.

NO TO SMART METERS!!

My Thursday This Week

Being Thursday, I went to TOPS this morning (down 1/2#), then for lunch with 'the ladies'. As often happens, I also went to the Bargain Bin (2nd hand store) with some of my friends. I've been staying away from there a lot lately as I am working at getting rid of stuff, not wanting to bring more home!! Anyway, I've been wanting a duvet cover (queen size) as I was recently given a duvet that didn't have a cover (thank you so much, Cat, I love it!!) So guess what I found at the Bargain Bin!! Yup, a queen size duvet cover... BRAND NEW, STILL IN THE PACKAGE!!! Regular price $186.99.... It was priced $20.00 and being all the stuff in that area was 1/2 price today I got it for $10.00!!!! WoHOOO!!! I love a good deal!!! I also got a pair of short leather winter boots, 2 pairs of earrings, a set of 3 small canisters (very handy for various bulk foods), a blouse, a large bed sheet, an eagle patch (Harley style, says Ride Free and Motor Cycles) I'll give to a Harley friend at Christmas.... total cost $19.00!! Not bad!! While there I should have checked to see what they had for breeches, but didn't think of it then, so maybe next week. Anyway, I already have the duvet into it's cover and my bed looks great. Can hardly wait to slide into it tonight.

Issues Signing In

I've been finding Blogger harder and harder to sign into lately. It is a real run around to get in here each and every time. Oh well... at least I finally find my way from web page to web page and finally get into my blog!!

My day today:

Planned to do: 30 minutes on treadmill.... laundry... clean chinchilla & rabbit cages.

Actually did: 3 loads of laundry - washed/dried/folded/put away... cleaned all 3 chinchilla cages and 1 rabbit cage, gave the chins their dust baths, topped up water bottles... talked on phone to George for 4 hours while I did the laundry, talked on phone for 1 hour to Ray, talked on Messenger with Dan for undetermined time twice, thought about Mark and wondered if he'll be coming over this way any time soon and if he has bought another truck yet. (I have one I will sell him, lol)

All that is on top of 'every day stuff' like feeding birds & cat (rabbit & chinchillas get food dishes filled every few days as needed). My dog, Indaway, is inside now and just finished eating his dinner or raw turkey. Oh ya, including feeding myself, haha.

Doing dishes was something I should have done and would have done, though didn't get to. They'll still be there tomorrow. I am disappointed that I didn't get on the treadmill today, just couldn't fit it in. Guess I could have done that while on the phone, if only I had thought to do so.

So... my 'To Do' list for tomorrow will start with 30 minutes on the treadmill and do the dishes. Fold more laundry tops the list too. Then work on cleaning the kitchen.

My Blogging Goal

I used to do a LOT of blogging. I wrote many posts and visited many other people's blogs. I also participated in writing challenges as well as photographic challenges. I very much enjoyed all of that, though found eventually my life changed and I no longer had the time for all those countless hours each day to be spent on the computer. Since then, I have largely gotten away from blogging. I find that this is a sad thing, and I desire to do more blogging again. Oh, not as much as I once did as I still have much to do in my 'real' life, though still I do want to blog a bit more again than what I have been doing this last while. So, I set a goal to do at least a small blog post each day, on each of my 2 blogs... and some days to do even larger posts.

Another Rider Killed!!!

I have my TV on and the News is currently on. There was just a story about a PT Cruiser hitting a motorcycle and killing the driver of the motorcycle. I find this kind of thing most upsetting and unsettling!! Why? Because not only am I the owner and driver/rider of a motorcycle, but I too have been hit by a car. I am one of the very very lucky ones.... I lived to tell the story!! I lived to ride another day!! My trike (3 wheeled motorcycle) was totally destroyed and I received some very serious injuries that will forever plague my life. Yet I am alive and still functioning nearly as normal.

I asked the police and the insurance company, but neither one will tell me if the woman who was driving the car that hit me was charged with anything!! This woman nearly killed me and no one will tell me if she even got in any trouble for it!! Oh, I know the 'fault' of the crash was 'found in my favor', so my insurance premiums don't go up and hers do, but big deal, so she has to pay a little bit more for her insurance, just as she would have to if she damaged another car... which she did. Yes, after hitting me and my trike, she went on to hit a Honda car before she finally got around to stopping about 1/3 of a block further down the street.

Yes, I was one of the lucky ones!! The rider who was killed by the PT Cruiser was not so lucky! Statistics show that 85% of crashes involving motorcycles are cars hitting the motorcycles, and in most cases the car turns left into the lane of the motorcycle. When a car hits a motorcycle, it is never a good outcome!! I would really like to ask a question of some of these 'cage' drivers (cage = car, truck or van). I would like to ask "How does it feel to kill an innocent person? How does it feel to end the life of a man/woman, a father/mother, a son/daughter, a husband/wife?" Oh, I know that these people don't get up in the morning and say to themselves "I think I'll go out and kill a motorcyclist today"... and yet they do due to ignorance, due to being in too big a hurry, due to talking on their cell phone, due to just not paying attention to what they are doing!! Then they say "I didn't see it!" THEN LOOK!!!! My trike and I were not easy to 'not see'. I was wearing a salmon colored, highly visible vest over top of my black leather jacket, the trike is as wide as a car, and I was flying the Canadian Flag on it!! If she couldn't see me than I guess she wouldn't see a bicyclist or a pedestrian either. She nearly killed me... I hope she at least learned something from the experience. I sometimes wonder if she's ever even given a second thought to the woman she hit that day!!!

Human Challenges

Today I was at a Baby Shower that I was invited to about a month or so ago. I found it most boring though am happy I went as many others canceled or just didn't show up. The young mother to be is the younger daughter of a friend of mine, both special people. Another friend of mine is always talking about how 'old' his is and has already been giving out many verbal birthday party invitations, for when he turns 60 in April 2012. While one boy is soon to be born, another one is more or less planning the end of his life when he could be planning many years yet to come. So much of humanity doesn't make much sense to me, I must admit. My mother is now 88 years of age and seems to still have more plans for her life than the friend who is going to turn 60 in just over 6 months. I wish I could better understand sometimes... and yet maybe it's not for me to understand. I just wish I could find a way to help my friend plan for more life and actually look forward to it.

My New Truck

Currently, I drive a 1992 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4... and I love it. I have been trying to remember just what year I bought this truck who I named Vaquero (Spanish for Cowboy), and I don't recall though it could be as much as 10 years ago now. When I got him, he looked great and he has always been a super dependable truck. Now, with over 320,000 kilometers on him, he is rusty so doesn't look so good anymore, yet still he is super dependable and still is a pleasure to drive. I took Vaquero off the road in June, switching the insurance over to my trike. All summer Vaquero sat in my yard waiting while I rode Phoenix. On October 1, I decided it was time... it was cold and rainy, not the type of weather I wanted to ride the trike in, so I changed insurance from Phoenix back to Vaquero (from trike back to truck). I went out and put the key into Vaquero's ignition, turned it and VROOOM, he fired right up, happy to be alive and running again!!! I totally love this truck!!!

As much as I love Vaquero, the time has come to replace him, so taking into consideration how much I've enjoyed our years together and how dependable he has been and still is, I decided to go with another Ford Ranger 4x4. This time it will be a 2008 XLT with power windows and the 4 door extended cab. He has all the features that I wanted... and already he has a name!! I was telling my friends on Facebook about my new truck and posted a photo of this Grabber Orange truck. (Grabber Orange is a rare color... only 618 of them were put out in 2008 and fewer in 2009). My friend Brooks referred to this truck as Orange Julius... so I've named him Julius!!

You may have noticed a theme here... I always have male vehicles, not female, and yes, I name them too.

And here he is.... Julius!!

This is the photo my brother took of Julius when he, Terry, went to test drive the truck for me. You see, I found it on Craigslist and it's in Vancouver. Terry lives in the lower mainland so was able to go check this out for me (a wonderful big brother, don't you think), and said I'm getting a really great truck. Tomorrow I will drive to my bank about 1/2 hour north of here in the small town where I once lived and my Mom still lives. I will get a bank draft to pay for the truck and have a short visit with Mom, if there's time. Then back home where friend Ray will pick me up and give me a ride to the Greyhound Bus depot where I will begin my 9 hour bus ride. Terry will pick me up at the Vancouver bus depot and we'll drive about 45 - 60 minutes to his & Alana's home where I'll spend the night. On Wednesday I will meet with Vic, "the seller" and get all the paper work done, the truck paid for and all that stuff... then off to insure the truck. I will then begin the drive back home. The trip home will take quite a bit less time than the bus ride down will take. Well, unless I stop along the way to visit some of my triker friends, lol.

New Stuff

I have been having some fun spending money this last while. I have bought a newer truck as well as my very first mattress!! Oh, I've had and owned and slept on mattresses before of course, but what I mean is I've never actually purchased a mattress before. Many many years ago I bought myself a queen sized water bed that of course came with a water bag which is a type of mattress, yet that is totally different from what I mean. My parents gave me an antique bed and the mattress that they had on it. They had used this bed for many years themselves and no longer had a use for it so gave it to me along with the matching vanity, stool and highboy dresser. I don't remember for sure when this bedroom suite came to me, but know it was before I had the renovations done to my home and that was in 1997, so you get the picture, it's an old mattress. So now I've actually shopped for and purchased a brand new Obusform, pillow top mattress that is going to be so comfortable and good support for my back!! It is on order and I am so looking forward to when it arrives and I get to sleep my first night on it. The Brick has a special deal on just now where if you buy this particular bed you get a free 51" Samsung Plasma TV!! Oh ya, I know I paid more for the mattress to get the 'free' TV than I would have had to otherwise, but that's okay. I figure I still got a good deal... I figure I paid about $450 for the TV this way, so I'm good with that. I wonder now, though, if all the cords and such come with it for hooking this TV up... things like the dvi to hdmi cables and all that type of thing. I hope all I need is included, and if it's not I guess I'll just have to go buy whatever is needed.

Inspirational

The following is copied from The Divine Awakening on Facebook. I read it and it really touched my life. I have re-read it multiple times, then decided to share it with you. It may touch your life too.

It is human and natural to feel alone at times; to forget that there are people who love us and are thinking of us even when we're far from them or haven't seen them in a long time.

It's vital to also know that there are Spiritual Beings of Light who are always around us, loving and supporting us. These beings give us little reminders every day of how much we are loved, through poignant song lyrics, or a well placed sign on the side of the road; Spirit is always giving us signs if we only have the eyes to see and ears to hear them.

It is not just Spiritual Beings who come into our lives to love us on an energetic level, but also people. It may be difficult for you to completely understand this; but every single person you encounter is sent to you from Heaven. You have never once met a person in your life who wasn't sent especially for you, at exactly the right moment. As Neale Donald Walsh said in one of his Conversations with God, "I have only sent you Angels".

We are all made of the same essence - God - Love - Universal Life. And we all play important roles in each others lives whether we are aware of it or not. Someone may come into your life and give you nothing but pain, and on a conscious level perhaps they choose to hurt you, and yet on a Spiritual level their soul knows that your own soul has asked them to play this role in your life, so that you can learn a valuable lesson, and remember a vital truth about Love.

So the next time someone hurts you, or angers you, or causes you unpleasantness in your life, take a moment to remember that they are as sacred and as Loved as you are - for they are made of the same Essential God-Energy as you. Give thanks for the lesson they've come to teach you, and then get over your feelings of victimization - realize the lesson - and move through it.

You are never alone, you just forget that sometimes. But right now, as you sit there reading these words, your guides and Angels surround you, reaching out to you in energetic warmth and Love. You are the most special being in the Universe to them. And even the lowliest or tyrannical of human beings in the world are loved by their own guides and Angels.

Because again - God has sent us nothing but Angels ♥

Distraction

Have you ever gotten distracted and lost all track of time? Unfortunately it's something that happens to me and even more since I received a brain injury about a year ago. This evening I was going tell you about Pastry/Baker Chef Jobs, then stopped to think what exactly I was going to say.

I ended up going to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, seeing all the plums sitting there waiting for me to make them into jam and a sink full of dishes waiting to be washed. I washed the dishes while the water heated for tea and once the dishes were washed I poured the boiled water over the tea bag in my cup and washed the plums. Since they were washed and in the pot, I turned on the stove and cooked them, put them into a colander and squeezed the fruit through, removing the pits. You see, these are Damson Plums, about the size of a cherry, so the pit is not easily cut out of the plum like it is with larger fruit. I added honey to the cooked fruit and returned it to the heat to cook it down into jam. This is the first time I've made jam using honey instead of the sugar and wanted to give it a try. It seems to have worked very well, though it is much more costly than using sugar. This was the 3rd batch of jam I've made in the last few days, going to my yard to pick more plums as needed. I plan to give jam as gifts this Christmas and have a good stock for my own use. I made the 1st batch 'plain' using just the plums and sugar. The 2nd batch I added some cinnamon to the mix, the first time I did this and it turned out very nice. This, the 3rd batch, I substituted the honey for the sugar. Now I plan to make a batch using brown sugar instead of the white, just to see what it tastes like, and a batch using apples & cinnamon with the plums. I'm not fond of Damson Plums as an eating plum, though I know people who do like them for just munching on. However, when it comes to cooking and jam making I think there is nothing better than the Damson Plum and they are well worth the extra work involved with using the smaller fruit.

Oh ya, I drank cold tea and am now too tired to tell you about anything else. Off I go to bed. Good night.

Treadmill

Today I rode my trike out to Falkland to look at a used treadmill that a friend of mine told me about at the Senior's Centre there. It is a good machine and I bought it for a really good price. I phoned my friend Dan the Man with a Van and had him come out and get it for me as it's way too big and heavy to pack on a motorcycle, even mine. I would have liked to go visit some of my friends in Falkland, including Don who owns a store that sells lots of motorcycle clothes and accessories, even some funny tshirts I really like (I want to get the one that says "Property of Nobody"), but had to ride home to meet Dan. By the time I got here he'd dropped off the treadmill in my carport and left already, so I picked some of my plums, then came inside and prepared a spot for the treadmill to go. I had to move other furniture to make room for it. Dan came back a bit later and between the two of us we managed to get the huge, heavy machine into my house where it now takes up a large part of my living room. It's a good thing to have and will help me to look better by spring when maybe I'll buy myself one of those t-shirts.

Something New

Did you know you can buy vision insurance? I didn't, actually. I have insurance on my home, insurance on my vehicle, I know people get life insurance and special insurance to cover jewelry and cameras, etc. I guess, now that I think about it, that singers can insure their voices. Do hand models insure their hands? I guess there is a whole lot of things that you can insure that I've never given any thought to. Hmmmm.... Well, I think I should insure that my stomach isn't going to stay empty. Yes, this is a different meaning to insuring something, but I am going to go make myself a cup of hot tea and find something to eat with it.

Riding

All summer I've taken every opportunity I could to ride my motorcycle. I've put somewhere around 6,000 kilometers on it since I insured it in June and I've loved pretty much every inch of all those kilometers of riding. Yet, yesterday and today I have felt content to just stay home. The weather has turned cool and cloudy so it's not as enjoyable to ride now as it was most of the summer. All July we had a whole lot of rain and I rode in it with no problem, even though I got soaked to the skin every time, yet it was still not all that cold. Monday evening I went for a ride with some friends, up Silver Star Mountain to the ski hill, and it was a really great ride except it was freezing up high. My left hand was so cold my fingers were hurting really badly and I could hardly pull the clutch. For some reason, though my right fingers were cold too, they weren't anywhere near as bad as the left. My ears and face were also very cold as was my entire body. I was so glad to finally get to the top, hoping there would be somewhere we could go for hot drinks, only to find that everything up there was closed. Thankfully, I had full finger gloves in my saddlebags (I ride with fingerless gloves), as well as a sweater and a neoprene face mask. After a short walk around the village, I bundled up and was much warmer on the ride down than I had been on the ride up. I sure enjoyed a hot cup of tea when we got down the mountain again.

Videos

When is the last time you watched a video download from youtube? I don't go there a lot, but do occasionally enjoy watching different videos there. Some I watch are educational and some are just plain funny. For example, yesterday i watched a video that taught me how to back up my Bookmarks in Firefox so that my laptop can be reformatted and then my bookmarks can be returned to where they need to be fore me to use them when I want/need them. I found it a very easy to follow and most helpful video. The funny videos are many, including Russel Peters and the hilarious Jeff Dunham and his band of puppets.

Computer Updates

My computers have been giving me a lot of problems lately, and I am very happy to say I am soon to be beyond all the problems. My friend Dan reformatted my old HP laptop which never has been a good computer even though I paid over $1000 for it. I will never buy another Hewlett Packard computer after all the problems I've had with this one. A few years ago I bought a cheap Acer laptop for under $400 and it has been a far better computer for me than the HP ever was. I am glad though that I still have the HP kicking around as a 'back up' computer as I now am using it while Dan does the reformat on the Acer. Than I will be using it again as my main computer and this one as a back up will again sit on the computer desk and collect dust until it is needed for any reason.

In the meantime, my friend CJ told me she's been using coupons to save $$ and is trying to get a coupon exchange going in our town. I guess many companies give coupons to let people save money while purchasing their products. I know where you can get Kohls coupons, and I know that some coupons come in the mail or in flyers in the newspaper. I'm going to start using more coupons.

A Surprising Question

The other day I was talking to a young friend and he asked me when to give a promise ring. Since I didn't even know he was seeing a girl, I was surprised by his question. I asked him who the lucky person was (just in case it wasn't a girl, you never know these days) and he said he didn't have a girlfriend, he was just wondering. I must admit that I am now wondering if he has someone in his life and is just too shy to tell anyone... including his "Auntie Butterfly". I know that when he is ready he will 'spill the beans' so to speak. He's a wonderful young man and anyone would be lucky to have him love them.

This Too Shall Pass

I am trying to leave for a weekend in Omak at the Stampede, and everything seems to be going wrong. Last night I started having major problems with my computer and am very lucky to even be on here at all today. I think it's minute by minute until this laptop doesn't work at all. My computer tech is currently on holidays so I won't be able to get him to look at it until he and I are both back here. I was thinking about looking into rv loans, I would love to do some traveling. Now I will also have to look into buying a new computer. I'm thinking maybe get an iPad instead, but need to do more research before I do it. Also last night my cat knocked stuff over and broke things, the box on my trike broke and lost a piece of iron so I had to take it and have a new piece welded in. Sheeesh!! I hope all goes more smoothly today as I want to get out of here and on the road.

Major Storm

We had a really incredible storm here last night. Wind! Thunder! Lightening! Heavy Rain! I got home from town when black clouds were along one horizon and very shortly after that the storm hit!! I had tarped the trike and used rocks to hold the tarp down, but the wind ripped the tarp off of it, so I went out in the pouring rain and took the seat and saddle bags off, putting them in the carport where they'd be protected... that was after my power went out. Good thing I had 2 batteries on chargers for my big flashlight! I took the flashlight to bed and read my book until the one battery died, changed them by candle light and read (and texted some) until the second one was nearly dead, then shut it down and went to sleep. Power came back on sometime during the night. Good to have power on again... cel on charger, computer & internet back, etc. etc. Thankfully the weather demons got it out of their system and it is blue sky & sunshine again today.

'Brothers Of The Third Wheel' Trike Rally

Last year I went out to a Brothers of the Third Wheel Trike Rally. I rode out on my trike along with a friend on a Harley and since he had said we should leave my place about 10am, we missed out big time. It turned out everyone went on a Poker Run and we passed them around Grindrod, heading in the direction we were coming from. This year, knowing they would head out for a run, I went early. I left home just after 8:00am and met my friend George across the lake from my place. He rode to Sicamous with me and came to the camp ground to check out the trikes and meet the trikers.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

This one belongs to Jerry & his wife from Chilliwack. This is a factory built automobile, I believe he said it's 1972... there are only 2 of them left in Canada, 1 in a museum and this one. It is registered as a car so they wear seat belts instead of helmets. It has a 'rag top' which he took off just before I took the photo.

As you can see, the CanAm Spider is not the first trike to have 2 wheels in the front and 1 in the back.


The yellow trike is Denise's. She just bought it from Bob so he didn't have a trike to ride. Denise was so excited because Bob was riding the "birch seat" on her trike!! (She would drive and he ride behind her.)
Yes, the gray one is a Fiero... or was anyway. It was down for the weekend from Fort St. John, ridden by Jerome.

In the background, notice the yellow & black cars. They also went on the run with us, driven my BTW members who currently either have not trike or are physically unable to ride one, yet still love being part of the group and going on the runs. Daye drove the yellow car, Terry & wife were in the black one.


This trike is Wally & Chris's. I wish I had details on what kind of motors each trike has, but I don't... yet. I have a couple email addresses so will be in contact with the group.

Kevin & Heather ride this one.

Of course, I must include George's Harley and my trike, though it is not a great shot of either.

When we arrived at the campground we at first didn't see the trikes, then saw a couple people come out from behind some tents and wave us over. As I drove up to the BTW (Brothers of the Third Wheel) area, Denise came out to greet me, so happy to see another woman with her own trike. It was an awesome greeting, warm & friendly. I was introduced to many who's names I don't remember, though thankfully I do remember some names and all the great people. I remember Terry & Jerry... I have a brother named Terry and had a brother named Gerald, or Jerry, and a boyfriend named Jerry.

When we headed out George stayed in Sicamous to do some stuff he wanted to do there, and 6 of us trikes went on the Poker Run to the Gold Panner Cafe just past Cherryville. I am told that this year was the smallest turn out they have had yet... including me there were 6 trikes. Apparently one fellow had left early due to ill health.

Having each picked one card at the campsite in Sicamous, we rode to Armstrong where we pulled in to the A&W where we all got to choose card number 2.

All the trikes of course get a lot of attention wherever they go. People come to look.

We then were riding to Cherryville and made it to Vernon when our leader pulled over and talked to Bob a couple minutes, then came over to me. "Do you know your way around?" or something like that. I didn't bother to say how long I have lived in this area, but did agree to lead the pack the rest of the way. Off we went through Vernon and out to the Gold Panner Cafe, stopping in Lumby for gas in my trike & one other. We got to the Gold Panner just before the storm hit and the rain pelted down in bucket fulls as we sat inside... after coming in off the patio during the early part of the rain fall. After we enjoyed our lunch we headed back with me in the lead again. I took everyone through Vernon a different way in order to miss the heavier traffic part of the city, then back onto the highway. Just coming into Armstrong we were going slow for the construction when I had to change over to my reserve gas tank. Going at a lower speed and letting go of one handle bar put my trike into a major wheel wobble where the front wheel was wobbling back and forth and I barely able to hang on to it could do nothing but ride it out until the trike slowed down enough for it to stop. I have a steering damper on it so this shouldn't have happened, but it turns out the damper has come loose, so happen it did. It took a long time to stop doing it. I rode on through the construction, meeting George on his way back home, and north to Enderby where I stopped for gas again. While there I decided not to go the rest of the way to Sicamous, just so I could turn around and ride all the way back, so I said my goodbyes there and headed back south again.

I just got a few kilometers down the road when the lightening storm hit. The rain was coming down so hard and heavy that I could barely see, and I wasn't properly geared up for this kind of riding, so I pulled off onto a side road and under a tree where I was at least a little bit protected from the rainfall. Another motorcycle also pulled off and took cover under that tree. I took out the rain-proof liner for my jacket from the saddle bag, took off the jacket, put on the liner as if it was another jacket, but the outer jacket back on, put on my neoprene face mask and by then the rain had slowed down some so off I went again. Just south of Armstrong my friends Hammer & Melody pulled up beside me on their Harley, we waved at each other &, happy to see them, I gave them a nice big smile... then realized they couldn't see it since I was wearing a face mask to protect my face from the pelting rain... then they rode on, rushing home to get out of the rain.

Having put about 400 kilometers on my trike since leaving home, I returned home soaking wet, yet my heart still happy. I had a wonderful day and am pretty sure that next year I not only will go out to meet and ride with the Brothers of the Third Wheel, but will likely go camp with them for the weekend. I will also likely officially join the club by then.

Random Thoughts

Some random thoughts for you today...

- Down the road from me is a place called Ho Mai Berry Farm. I'm not sure if I spelled that exactly right, but I think it's pronounced Hoe My Berry Farm and I laugh every time I see there sign.
- I like the sound of sharis berries discount coupon. The name Shari's Berries is something my ears like... and discount coupon is something my budget likes.
- My friend Dan gave me $10 for gas today. That filled my tank!! In my truck it's around $7o to fill the gas tank, but the trike only has a small tank. Mind you, I have to fill it more often too, and I put more miles on the trike than I do the truck because it's cheaper to drive.
- I am hoping it's a sunny day tomorrow and I would even settle for a dry day (no rain, please).
- My cat Mewsic is sleeping near me. I think it's time I put the computer down and go join her in Dreamland.

BTW Trike Rally

I had planned to go to get blood tests today and to do volunteer work at the food bank, then I got company that stayed for nearly 2 hours so killed those plans. However, I did still get to drive out to visit Mom and have dinner with her. In a few short hours I must be up and off again. I plan to ride to Sicamous, an hour or more from here, to join in the Brothers of the Third Wheel Trike Rally. It will be great to meet other people who ride trikes and to go riding with a whole group of other trikes. I know they gather at a camp grounds out on the other side of the town. I don't have a tomtom gps, so hope I can just find the place on my own or by asking directions... the old fashioned way, haha.

Guess I better get to sleep or I won't be going anywhere early enough to ride with other trikes.

My Floors

I am so very happy to have the fellow that lived in my yard for awhile gone. I liked the money he gave me to stay here, but I did not like him, a very negative person who was always lying about everything. Though it is good to have him gone I am grateful that he was here for a time. Thanks to the money he paid to stay here, I have much nicer floors than I had previously. I got a good deal on some laminate flooring for my living room, kitchen, bedroom, loom room and hallway. Oh, it's not pergo flooring, but it still looks very good and is a not too bad quality. I do wish though that I had gotten a darker color as this shows all the pet hair so looks dirty shortly after I sweep it. I thought light would be good as it would brighten up the gloomy home, but now I know if I had it to do over again I would go with a bit darker than this while still not being too dark. Over all, I do love my laminate floors.

July 15th

Today was a very good day. It was the first in several days that I didn't get rained on while riding my trike and that has to be good. This afternoon I rode up to the small town where my mother lives, with the intention of visiting her. Before going to Mom's I decided to go take a walk along the river that flows through the town, it's so beautiful to walk along it. On the bank of the river, right where the one end of the River Walk starts, there is an RV Park Campground. Of course this time of the year it is packed, and this particular weekend there are a lot of motorcycle riders staying there as this town is fairly near Salmon Arm where there is a really big motorcycle rally and music festival this weekend, called Sturgis North. I didn't get to walk far as people kept recognizing me as a rider (wearing chaps and a doo rag) and talking to me. It was really awesome and I really enjoyed that, though really could have used the exercise, lol. I made it over to Mom's and we went out for dinner, then for a drive in her car. Back at Mom's I got back into chaps, jacket, helmet and headed back home.

Hot Summer Day... and Sports

It's summer in the Okanagan, so fruit is on the trees and people are playing lots of sports. As I drive around my area I see people playing soccer and in other places baseball. It's that time of year when most people are being active and outside, happy to shed the winter blahs. A friend of mine injured her left ankle a few years ago, so she is not able to play sports and even has a hard time walking, so it benefits her to wear a soccer ankle brace to support the ankle and make it easier for her to get around. Since one of these helps while playing sports, I can see why it helps her. I find that often we can use something meant for one thing for yet another. Today there is not a cloud in the sky, the thermometer is rising, and I am going out to do some errands & spend time with friends. I think I'll drive by a soccer field and spend some time watching young people playing their game.

Preserving Fruit

Summer in the Okanagan Valley of BC Canada means a lot of nice fresh fruit on trees and in stores. I love eating fruit fresh off the tree and next best thing, locally grown out of the stores, but what about winter time? I know I would love to have fruit available in winter, but really have never 'put up' anything, so don't know how to do it right. On Facebook I have found lots of different pages, or walls as they call them, to 'Like' and stay connected with. One of them, Away to Garden, is all about horticultural how-to and woo-woo. It is the source for garden information and inspiration, by Margaret Roach, head gardener. What I read there just now was about farm-fresh peaches, frozen to perfection, which is a timely article since peaches will soon be abundant in the Okanagan. I look forward to trying what Margaret has shared with us here, and to enjoying my nice peaches all winter long.

Climate Change Video

This is a most interesting video and I think it effects everyone on Earth today.

Random Thoughts

From time to time I like to post a list of random thoughts, random facts about me, so here I go:
- I am 5 foot 2 1/2 inches tall.
- I sometimes have a problem with the keyboard on this laptop. It changes to give me other character than what I want and usually get on the keys. I can't really explain it, but it is frustrating and I have to reboot the computer to get my proper characters back. I just did that.
- I had to go outside and find my dog, I was so worried when I found him not in his pen.
- I love animals... though I guess if you read my blog you already know this.
- I do not smoke... so therefor, I do not smoke camacho triple maduro cigars.
- I parked my truck and transferred the insurance to my trike for the summer. Last year I had them both insured and only used the truck 3 days out of 4 months. This year, it is an unusually rainy year, so if I had the truck insured I would have used it more in the last 2 weeks than I did all summer last year.

Minter Gardens 2

Here are some more of the photos I took at Minter Gardens about a week and a half ago when I was there with a friend. We drove down in his truck, ate lunch, walked through these exquisite gardens, then drove back in about 14 hours or so. It was an incredible day and my first time at these gardens, though he has been there several times. I took 763 photos with my digital camera and they are now all on my computer and of course my exterior hard drive for protection. I would like to be able to display them and show them to people who come to visit so am thinking maybe something like one of da lite screens might be an option. This of course would mean getting a projector too, so maybe something else, but the digital photo frames just seem too small as for this project I am thinking much bigger.







If you click on the photos you will see them... bigger!

Minter Gardens

The other day I went to Minter Gardens with a friend of mine. It was my first time there and it was incredible!!! Wow, all the different flowers and water features were so beautiful. I took 763 photos. I can hardly believe I took that many photos in one day... in half of one day, just a few hours even!! Of course, I can not post them all here, but here are 5 to begin.

I Need Exercise

Due to health issues, I am supposed to be doing more exercise and I do know I need it, though still don't seem to be doing much. I have so much to do and just don't have the time to do it all. Maybe I'm just putting up blocks (yoga blocks? haha) to exercise. I have a new dog that needs to be walked though there is nowhere safe to walk where I live so I have to drive to somewhere to walk and at this time I only have a motorcycle to drive. Good for me but not for the dog. Oh well, we will find a way to work it all out. For now, I am teaching him in the yard to 'heel' so that when we do get to go for walks he will know how to do it properly. He comes well, so I think he will be able to go off lead at the dog parks when we get there.

A Blip from Life!

I am so happy, content and especially tired. I have had a wonderful 3 days riding my new trike, hot off the presses!! LOL. Having just gotten home and trying to pay some bills and such, I wish I had one of those Personalized Stamps with a bunch of the information on them that I have to write multiple times. Bill paying always seems to take the fun out of an otherwise great weekend. Oh well, the main thing is that I now have my new trike on the road and have been traveling all over the North & Central Okanagan Valley. One of these days I might head over to the Kootenays, or even down to the South Okanagan, almost to the border of Canada & US. I have people to visit in both places. But first I have to build my body back up to where it can ride longer times without getting over worked and hurting. My left wrist was shattered and dislocated just under 9 months ago and I am very blessed & grateful to have the use of my hand as well as more than 50% of the range of motion in the wrist itself. Since the crash where I was injured, this is the first I've ridden, so am physically out of shape for doing it. I know, you never realized one had to be in shape to ride a motorcycle, but you really do. Also, I need to put a windshield on it to cut down on the wind pressure against my body, and to stop so many bugs from committing suicide on my face... that hurts both them and me. Anyway, I really must go finish paying the bills, then get some sleep so I can do my gardening tomorrow... and ride some more too.

"World Terrorism Alert Levels" by John Cleese

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

-- John Cleese - British writer, actor and tall person

Choices

Have you ever wondered about the hydroxycut side effects? I never take any pills without checking out the possible side effects. Oh, I used to, but at my age I feel I must be aware of all the choices I am about to make. I feel that education is vitally important, being educated about the choices we are making. Currently my doctor & health nurse are pressuring me to take drugs to lower my cholesterol levels and I do not want to do that as I do not like the possible side effects of these type of drugs. Therefor, I am taking natural products that I know are safe and that help to reduce the cholesterol, as well as watching the kind of foods I eat and being more active. I believe we have choices.

House Number Missing

I'm thinking about getting myself one of those house address plaques, or making a sing to put down by the road. Lately I've been giving away lots of lilac bushes over Freecycle, working at fixing up my yard, and since the number fell down I have to give directions to anyone that is coming here for any reason like picking up lilac bushes. This is reasonably easy since I can give the neighbor's house number and explain I am right across the street from there. However, I know that if I had to call police or ambulance, every second counts and not having my house number up could cost precious moments. Yes, I need my house number posted at the bottom of my driveway!

Garden Accomplishments

I have spent most of today out in my garden. Dan came over and moved a set of stairs for me from my garden to the other side of the house, up against the retaining wall. Now I can get up to that part of my yard with much greater ease. I've had those steps for may years and wanted them where they are now so am very happy to finally have them there. Since he was here, I've planted seeds in the ground and into pots; I've added soil to the Freezer Raised Garden to bring the so it's now ready to be planted in; I did a bunch of digging with my shovel and leveling with my rake to level out some hills and dips (Several years ago this area of the yard was dug up to replace the septic line and was never properly leveled. I just planted some herbs on the hill and now want to improve it.) I worked then rested, worked then rested so that I could keep going without causing my body too much pain. I was in one of my rest periods, sitting at the table out there, looking around admiring the accomplishments and planning more when suddenly very large drops of rain began to fall fast and furiously. I grabbed my phones (cell & cordless land line), my tea cup and water bottle, gloves and seed packages, and ran for cover. It really poured out there for awhile though I think it's stopped now.

Garden & Trike

This time of year, my life is all about gardens and motorcycles, or to be more specific, my garden and my trike (3 wheeled motorcycle). Oh, I still have to do things like house work and other things necessary in life, but my main focus is my garden and my trike. Working on the trike to get it ready for riding season can be a dirty job as is gardening and any painting needed so I always make sure I wear old clothes to do this kind of work. I was thinking I might check out the 2nd hand stores for some lab coats, thinking they would be great for wearing over other clothes to keep clean. I used to raise and show rabbits and I found that it worked well to wear something like that over my good clothes at shows and while handling the rabbits at home. I also find that rabbit droppings are great for my garden so even though I no longer raise or show rabbits I am glad I have one pet rabbit left and am thinking about getting a few more.

Garden - Tea

Baby Spinach

I like to do things a little 'different' from most people. I guess because I find it boring to do the same, the expected. For example, I would like to have a few friends over for tea in my garden so rather than phone them, or even email them to invite them over, I think it is more fun to send an invitation. This time of year I have lots of little 'baby' plants in my garden as it over flows with spinach, mixed lettuces, kale & peas, so I think it would be fun to send my friends Paper Culture baby shower invitations. This way they would come to visit my garden and while enjoying a cup of tea they could 'meet' the little plants and maybe even enjoy a salad made with some fresh picked salad mix &/or spinach.

View from my Garden

OUCH!!!

My friend CJ gave me Gel Nails a short while back. She was taking a course in doing them and needed people to practice on, and I was lucky to be one of them. I've really been enjoying them.... until now. Yesterday I 'lost' a nail. Not the first one, and no big deal really, CJ can put it back on for me. In the meantime, until I get time to go see her I have to wear a bandaid on it to protect it from further damage... kind of a 'bother'. Today, I was carrying a bucket of rabbit feed, just putting it away where it belongs, and I don't know how I did it, but another nail got bent and snapped the Gel. The nail is still on, but the Gel is cracked the entire width of the nail, down in the tender part and I was bleeding through that crack, so obviously tore the flesh below. OUCH!! So now, both index fingers are bandaged due to these Gel Nails!! I was just filling a water bottle a few minutes ago and OUCH!!!! I hit the end of the painful finger and it hurt at least as bad if not worse than the first time. It may even be bleeding again under the bandage for all I know. Not that it's bleeding a lot, but I might be going to loose this nail now and I don't mean the Gel Nail, but the real one!! If it bleeds under your nail from injury people often loose the nail.

Spring has Sprung

It's fun at this time of year to see all of the new life everywhere you look. Working in my yard yesterday I was noticing all the beautiful blooms on many trees in my yard as well as my neighbors, and I was listening to the baby sheep in the neighbor's field, playing and calling to each other and their moms. Another thing I like about this time of year is all the young girls/women who are so excited to be graduating from school and some who are getting married soon. The shopping sprees are in full swing looking for the perfect bridesmaid dresses, bridal gowns and grad dresses. I have always loved spring best and found it to be the most fun & exciting season of the year.

I need HELP

I was surfing the net, as I often do, reading various things and came across and advertisement for best creatine supplements. Since I did not have a clue what creatine was, I Googled it and found it an interesting read. Among other things, Wikipedia (gotta love Wiki) says "... and helps to supply energy to all cells in the body..." WOW, I wonder if this means that a lazy couch spud like me would get energized and start to clean my home and yard as well as going for walks or riding my exercise bike. That sure would be a big bonus, wouldn't it!! I know I have to get moving, that I have to find the energy to take back my life and my health!! This is really out of hand for a woman who used to be very active. At one time I was always out at the country night club dancing all night long!! I 2 stepped and line danced to a slim, trim, healthy body and now since I quit going to bars I quit dancing and slowly got to where I quit moving much at all. I am in trouble and need some kind of help to get me moving again.

+ and - in life

I wonder if there is an ergo baby carrier large enough to pack adults that act like babies!! Two people on my Facebook are fighting and I am getting flack for not taking sides. I don't want to take sides and besides, I haven't even been online to get involved. Oh well, I have enough of my own problems and don't need to take on anyone elses. Sad.

Now, on to better things. I am happy to say that I finally got my Income Tax done today. I was having problems with it and ended up phoning Canadian Taxation Agency where I talked to a very nice gal who helped me a lot. Now all is done and just needs to be mailed. I wish I had thought to buy stamps today, then I could mail it down the road, but will have to drive to town to buy stamps and mail it. Oh well... such is life. A nice drive tomorrow or the next day might be a good thing for me.

I am grateful that I was able to buy 5 bags of pellets for my stove today. Though I'm not happy that it's still so cold that I need them, I am happy to have them to keep my home warm for me and my pets.

I am grateful that all my wonderful pets are safe and sound in my home with me.

I am grateful for my trustworthy truck that always runs well and gets me from place to place.

I am grateful that I have many many many things to be grateful for.

I am grateful that I know the power or gratitude!!

STUCK in an ELEVATOR!!

Well it's been an interesting day today. Among other things, I went to my Dr. appointment and the cel died just as I was going in. (Was only down 1 bar dang battery not good, only a month old). After the appointment I go to leave and the building decided to take me hostage!! Yup, going down 1 floor in elevator and it suddenly stops and nothing happens when I push any buttons. I said to myself "Self, I think we're stuck in the elevator" or something sort of like that. ;o) Thankfully the "Help" button worked and I got to talk to a guy and tell him what was happening and what city I was in, but not the address b'cuz I don't know it. I also told him my Dr.'s name and said to call there and get the address. Anyway, it took awhile but finally 2 repair guys turned up and broke me out of there. First time anything like that ever happened to me. After that I went and did a few hours volunteer work and am now home relaxing with a cat on my chest.

I'm not really sure how long it was... seemed like a long time but could only have been 30 - 45 minutes. Hey, could have been worse, there could have been some weird, smelly, freaky person in there with me. Haha. I sat down and read some ...of what I had been given (info on cholesterol) and then did some meditation, relaxation stuff. I have a mild issue with claustrophobia, but thankfully it didn't rear its ugly head today.

Thanks everyone!! I'm just really grateful this didn't happen to me a couple months ago, before I started 'doing the work' for the PTSD. I was so stressed out and coming apart at the seams that I might well have flipped right out. I was wondering why this happened to me, even when I was sitting there on the floor of the elevator I was wondering (I believe there is always a reason things happen, always something we are to learn) and finally I see what it well may be about. Maybe it's to show me just how far I've come in my healing, how I have returned to my 'pre-trauma' calm self. That makes it something to be grateful for.

Beautiful Lake

I clicked on a link to Branson real estate and came across this picture. Isn't it beautiful? I love the way the shoreline weaves in and out, creating several little coves where people can build their homes and dock their boats and be protected from wind storms. I love the way there are so many trees that have not been cut down, but allowed to grow. I would really enjoy relaxing on the beach in the foreground with a good book, or cruising down the lake in a nice boat. I wonder if this lake is good for fishing... hmmmm, that would be a great way to spend the day. Yes, I think I would love to live or even visit this beautiful lake.

Insurance

So far I have not been happy with auto insurance in BC. I was in a crash that was in no way my fault, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) agrees that it is 100% the other woman's fault, yet they only gave me just over 10% of the value of my vehicle. I haven't yet settled the claim for injuries and I am hoping they are better about that. I need counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they are only allowing a minimum of treatments, but at least it is helping a lot. I feel much less 'out of control' stressed now than what I was before the counseling started. What is health insurance in nc like? How about life insurance in CA? Or house insurance in AL? Whatever kind of insurance you have and wherever you live, I hope you don't have the problems with it if you need to place a claim that I have had with automobile insurance in BC.